Method and apparatus for processing photographic film

ABSTRACT

A light-tight tubular processor housing adapted to receive a sheet of photographic material therein and having a liquid admitting opening at one end, a liquid discharge opening at the other end and a reservoir within the housing which communicates with the liquid admitting opening and with the interior of the housing. The reservoir receives a processing liquid and stores the same out of contact with the interior of the housing in a first orientation and subsequently discharges the liquid into the housing upon movement of the latter to a second orientation.

United States Patent Porter [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM Inventor: Roy Donald Porter, Victoria, Australia [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

[22] Filed: May 10, 1965 [21] Appl. No.: 454,543

[S 1] Int. Cl. 603d 1/14 [58] Fleldol Search ..95/90, 90.5, 93, 96, 97

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 23,538 7/l9l0 Great Britain [451 July 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-John M. l-loran Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-R. Frank Smith and Paul R. Holmes [57] ABSTRACT A light-tight tubular processor housing adapted to receive a sheet of photographic material therein and having a liquid admitting opening at one end, a liquid discharge opening at the other end and a reservoir within the housing which communicates with the liquid admitting opening and with the interior of the housing. The reservoir receives a processing liquid and stores the same out of contact with the interior of the housing in a first orientation and subsequently discharges the liquid into the housing upon movement of the latter to a second orientation.

6Clalms,2Drawingllgures 'I I /53 all Patented July 18, 1972 R m 0 P D m m D Y 0 R A TTOR/VE Y8 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM This invention relates to a photographic apparatus and more particularly to a tubular processor for processing light sensitive photographic material which is located in contact with the inside periphery of the tubular processor.

There have been a number of tubular photographic processors which have been developed and are disclosed in the prior art publications. These processors do not fully satisfy the desires and present requirements of some consumers. One of the more important reasons why such processors are not entirely satisfactory involves the economics of using them. Generally, a large quantity of processing solution is required to fill the processor and to process the print material within the processor. This factor is of particular significance in the processing of photographic color material because of the large number of processing liquids, including wash liquids which are utilized. While the processing liquids are usually salvable, and can be stored for short periods of time in suitable containers for subsequent reuse, such storage involves special handling techniques and the possibility of deterioration of the liquids. in addition, there is the inconvenience of preparing, working with and storing relatively large quantities of the various processing liquids.

Another disadvantage of the known tubular processors is the difficulty of accurately timing the period of contact between the processing liquids and the photographic material, and the problem of getting behind on the recommended process time schedule. For example, when a processing liquid is poured into the processor, contact with a portion of photographic material is immediate, but contact with other portions of the material occurs at some time later because of the time required for filling the processor with liquid. When the processing liquid is being drained from the processor, the action of the liquid on the photographic material continues until the next processing liquid is added and contacts the material.

Yet another disadvantage of some of the known tubular processors is that they must be used under darkroom conditions because the processors do not exclude light, particularly through the opening through which processing liquid is admitted to or drained from the processor. These and other disadvantages of the known tubular processors have been over come with the novel processing apparatus of the present invention.

The photographic processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a tubular housing for receiving photographic material in non-overlapping relation and with the material located in surface contact with the inside periphery of the tubular housing. The tubular housing is provided with an opening through which processing liquids are admitted into the housing. Inside the housing and in communication with that opening, a reservoir is mounted to receive the liquids which are admitted through the opening, and to store such liquids out of contact with the inside periphery of the housing and out of contact with photographic material within the housing until the operator decides to have such contact occur. During processing of the photographic material, the tubular housing is oriented so that its longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal and the housing is rotated about its longitudinal axis. The liquid in the reservoir means is directed into contact with the photographic material and the inside periphery of the tubular housing. A small amount of processing liquid, which is sufiicient to cover an edge-to-edge section of the material on the inside periphery of the housing, contacts the entire photographic material during each revolution of the housing. Thus the invention contemplates the provision of a tubular processor having reservoir means for receiving processing liquid admitted to the tubular housing and storing such liquid out of contact with the photographic material until it is desired that such processing commence.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the tubular housing comprises a tubular member and a pair of opposed end walls, one of which defines the opening through which processing liquids are admitted to the housing and the other of which defines an opening through which processing liquids are discharged from the housing after processing the photographic material. The alignment and configuration of the two openings are such that any processing liquid in the tubular housing drains from the housing at the same time that a new processing liquid is being admitted to the housing and stored in the reservoir means. Thus the invention further contemplates the provision of a tubular processor in which processing liquid can be poured into the tubular housing simultaneously with the draining of used liquid from the housmg.

The openings in the tubular housing include light baffles which effectively prevent light from entering the housing so that the processing of photographic material can be carried out under daylight conditions except, of course, for the initial loading of material into the housing. To load the photographic material, one of the end walls of the housing is removed and, under darkroom conditions, the material is located in contact with the round inside periphery of the tubular housing, and the end wall is replaced on the housing.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved photographic processing apparatus which requires relatively small quantities of processing liquids for carrying out the various processing steps and which is therefore economical to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographic processing apparatus in which the period of contact of the photographic material with processing solution can be more accurately controlled and in which the time required for changing from one processing liquid to another is decreased.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubular print processor which, except for the loading of print material within the processor, may be utilized under daylight conditions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tubular photographic print processing apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to operate.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings in which like characters denote like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial section view of a tubular processing apparatus illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

The photographic apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a tubular housing which includes a tubular member 11 and end walls 13 and 15, all of which preferably are formed of a relatively inexpensive plastic material. End wall 13 is releasably connected to tubular member 11 by means of thumb screws 17, the tubular member having an annular flange 19 provided with threaded openings for receiving thumb screws 17, whereby the locating of photographic material to be processed within the tubular housing is facilitated. The material, for example, a color print material, is located with its back in surface contact with the inside round peripheral surface of tubular member 11.

The interior surface 21 of end wall 13 is machined or otherwise formed with an annular groove 23 having a configuration, width and depth sufficient to receive the tubular member 11 and to prevent the leakage of processing liquids from the tubular housing when the thumb screws 17 are tightened. The opening in the wall 13 through which processing liquids are admitted to the housing comprises a through-bore and is designated by the numeral 25. Counter-bores 27 and 29 are also formed in end wall 13. Funnel means 31, which comprises a round block having a funnel-shaped passageway in communication with opening 25, is seated in counter-bore 29.

A liquid receiving cup or reservoir 33 is mounted on surface 21 of end wall 13 in communication with opening 25 and is provided with a plurality of drain holes 35 in its larger end adjacent to the surface 21. The purpose of the drain holes is to direct liquid from the reservoir 33 into the interior of the housing for contacting the inside peripheral surface of tubular member 1 l and the print material which is disposed in contact with that surface. The reservoir 33 is preferably cup shaped, as shown in the drawing, with the end of larger diameter addressed toward and attached to surface 21. It should be appreciated, however, that the shape of reservoir 33 can be varied as desired. For example, it could be square rather than round in plane view, or it could have a V or trapezoidal shape in elevational cross section. In any event, the reservoir should have sufficient capacity to accommodate the quantity of liquid which will provide proper contact with and processing of the print material. The capacity of the reservoir 33 should be correlated to the length and diameter of tubular member 11 which, in turn, depends upon the dimensions of the print material to be processed. It has been found that a depth of solution in the tubular member 11 of approximately one-fourth inch maximum, when the processing apparatus is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, is sufficient to provide the desired contact and processing of print material located in the tubular housing as previously described. In a processing apparatus sufficiently large to accommodate 9 by ll inch print without any overlapping of the print, 2 ounces of processing liquid has proved to be adequate.

The numeral 37 designates a stud which is rigidly mounted on one end to the narrow end of reservoir 33, i.e., to the bottom of the cup. The other end of the stud protrudes through the opening 25. A disc 39 is fixed on stud 37 at a position such that the disc 39 is supported in spaced relation to counterbore 27. The function of the disc and stud is to form a baffle which prevents light from entering the processing apparatus through the opening 25 whereby the processing of print material in the processor can be carried out in a lighted environment. To facilitate the passage of processing liquid through opening 25 into reservoir 33, the peripheral edge of the disc 39 is formed with a plurality of notches 41. These notches are best illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that surface 21 of end wall 13 is machined or otherwise formed with a boss 43 which protrudes from the surface and forms a convenient means for locating and attaching the reservoir 33 to the end wall 13.

End wall 15, like end wall 13, has a diameter which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of tubular member 11. The interior surface 51 of end wall is formed with an annular groove 53 for receiving the end of tubular member I l. Tubular member 11 is attached to the end wall 15 in sealed engagement therewith by an adhesive or other suitable means. End wall 15 has an opening 55 formed by a through-bore and through which processing liquids can drain from the housing. The end wall 15 is also formed with a counter-bore 57 and a counter-bore 59 which are concentric with the opening 55, just as opening 25 is concentric with counter-bores 27 and 29. The numeral 61 designates a member having a diameter corresponding to that of counter-bore 59, which member is mounted in counter-bore 59 and has a plurality of liquid drain passageways 63 that communicate with the opening 55. These passageways facilitate the draining of liquid from the processor. A stud 65 is mounted in member 61 and protrudes into the opening 55. A disc 67 is affixed on stud 65 at a position such that the disc is supported in spaced relation to counterbore 57. The function of this stud and disc is to form a baffle which prevents light from entering the processing apparatus through the opening 55. Disc 67 is substantially identical to the disc 39 previously described. The interior surface 51 of end wall 15 is formed or otherwise provided with a funnel shape for directing the liquid within the processor to the opening 55 when the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 11 is oriented in a substantially vertical position.

The method of using the processing apparatus of the present invention will now be described. A sheet of photographic material to be processed, for example, a photographic print, is inserted under darkroom conditions into the tubular member 11 which preferably should be dry. The print is located with its back, that is, the support side, lying in surface contact with the inside peripheral surface of tubular member 11 so that the emulsion side of the print faces the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. As previously mentioned, the dimensions of the tubular member 11, which is utilized, should be sufficiently large that the print can be located in contact with the inside peripheral surface of tubular member 11 without any overlapping of the edges of the print. After the print is placed in the tubular member 11, the removable end wall 13 is replaced on the tubular member, and the thumb screws 17 are tightened to provide a liquid seal at groove 23. The print maintains its surface contact with the inside peripheral surface of tubular member 11 throughout all of the subsequent processing steps because of the natural resiliency of the print and because of the tendency of the print, particularly when wetted, to adhere to the inside peripheral surface of the tubular member. At this point in the method, the processor can be used under artificial or daylight conditions.

Prior to introducing the first processing liquid into the processor, the temperature of such liquid should be brought to within the temperature limits recommended for using the liquid. In this connection, it is sometimes preferred to introduce water of approximately l00F into the processor for the purpose of pre-washing the print and to raise the temperature of the print and processor closer to that at which the processing liquids will be used. Thus, with such a pre-wash step, there is less likelihood of the processing solutions being cooled upon initially contacting the print and tubular member. To introduce the pre-wash water, the tubular member 11 is positioned with its longitudinal axis vertical, and the water is poured into the reservoir 33 through the funnel means 31 and opening 25. Thereafter the processor is turned over so that the longitudinal axis of the tubular member is substantially horizontal. In this position the water in reservoir 33 drains through the holes 35 into contact with the inside peripheral surface of tubular member 11 and into contact withthe print located in surface contact with such surface. The processor is then rotated about its longitudinal axis so that the entire surface of the print is contacted with the pre-wash water. To terminate the pre-wash step, the tubular member 11 is oriented so that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical. In this position the water within the processor is funneled into the opening 55 and is discharged from the housing through the passageways 63.

At the same time that the water is draining from the housing, the next processing liquid can be poured through opening 25 into the reservoir 33. As soon as the water has drained from the processor, the tubular member 11 would be again positioned so that its longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal, thereby permitting the processing liquid to drain from the reservoir into contact with the print material; and the processor is rotated about the longitudinal axis as previously described to obtain full contact with and processing of the print. The steps of adding processing liquid while simultaneously draining the useful liquid, and of rotating the tubular member about its longitudinal axis when in a horizontal position to accomplish the processing function, are repeated for each of various solutions and washes which may be required for processing the particular kind of photographic material which is to be processed in the processor. In each processing step, because the quantity of processing liquid which is required for carrying out that step is relatively small, the used liquid can be discarded without seriously detracting from the overall economy of processing in accordance with the present invention.

The processing apparatus of the present invention is preferably formed with end walls, the edge surfaces of which are concentric with and of a diameter larger than the outside periphery of the tubular member 11 whereby the member can be rolled through contact of the edge surfaces with the horizontal top of a table or other flat surface and thereby rotate the member about its longitudinal axis. Alternatively, in the situation where greater usage is contemplated, it would be a simple matter to provide a powered cradle for continuously rotating the processor while maintaining the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 11 in substantially a fixed horizontal position Such a cradle, for example, could be operated hydraulically by flowing water from a tap.

The processing apparatus of the present invention enables one to process photographic material in an appreciably shorter time than has been possible with the known tubular processing apparatus, because one processing liquid can be introduced into the processor and stored in the reservoir ready for application to the photographic material in the processor concurrently with the draining of processing liquid from the preceding processing step from the processor. Because of this facility, the duration of the processing steps are more accurately controlled. The addition of aprocessing liquid need not be delayed until the used liquid from a prior processing step is fully drained from the processor. The processing apparatus of the present invention has the further advantage of enabling one to carry out all the processing steps in well lighted surroundings after having first, in darkness, inserted the photographic material into the processor. Because the processing apparatus is of minimal size relative to the dimensions of the print to be processed, it is easy and convenient to manipulate during the processing of a photographic print. Even the processing liquids are small in volume and, therefore, easier to handle than would be larger volumes of liquids. Temperature adjustment of the small volumes of liquids is also simplified. In addition, since the tank can be utilized in well lighted surroundings, the thermometers or other means for indicating the temperature of the various processing liquids are more easily read.

Still another advantage obtained with the processing apparatus of the present invention is that the surface of the photographic material need not be and generally is not touched by the operator during processing. Thus, abrasion of the emulsion surface of the material is avoided.

The speed of rotation of the processor is under the control of the operator and can be adjusted to provide optimum processing with each processing liquid based upon past experience. In this connection, it should be noted that the speed of rotation of the processor should be sufficient to permit the solution in the processing apparatus to contact all parts of the photographic material, but care should be exercised not to rotate the processor so fast that undesirable flow patterns are developed within the processor. Such flow patterns could result in non-uniform movement of the processing liquid relative to the photographic material and in non-uniform processing of such material.

Still another advantage of the processing apparatus of the present invention is that the complete apparatus can be formed of relatively inexpensive plastic material such as polyvinyl-chloride. Other materials such as stainless steel, for example, which do not react with the processing liquids, can also be utilized.

The invention has been described in considerable detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove, and as defined in the appended claims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what i claim is:

l. A photographic apparatus for processing photographic material comprising:

a. a tubular housing including spaced first and second end walls, at least one of which is separable from the rest of the housing to facilitate locating of said such photographic material in said housing,

b. said first end wall having an opening for admitting liquid into said tubular housing; and

c. reservoir means mounted within said housing and in communication with said liquid admitting opening for receiving liquid as it is admitted into said housing and storing the received liquid out of contact with the interior surface of said housing and such received material while said housing is disposed in a first orientation and for discharging the stored liquid into contact with the internal surface of said housing and such received material when said housing is disposed in a second orientation,

d. said second end wall defining liquid discharge means connecting the housing interior and exterior for draining frcim said housing, while said housing is disposed in said first orientation, that liquid which has contacted said interior housing surface and said received material while said housing is disposed in said second orientation.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein in said first orientation said housing is in a position with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially vertical and the first end wall above said second end wall and in said second orientation said housing is in a position with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially horizontal.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a substantially circular peripheral exterior surface which in said second orientation is adapted for transmitting rotary movement around said longitudinal axis to said housmg.

4. Apparatus for processing photographic materials comprising:

a. a tubular housing including one section separable from the rest of said housing to facilitate the locating of such photographic material in said housing,

b. said housing having means defining an opening for admitting a processing liquid into said housing,

c. reservoir means mounted within said housing and in communication with said admitting opening for receiving the processing liquid as it is admittedinto said housing and for storing the received processing liquid out of contact with an interior surface of said housing and the received photographic material while said housing is disposed in a first orientation and for discharging the stored processing liquid into contact with the received photographic material when said housing is disposed in a second orientation,

d. said one section comprising a first end wall and said housing including a second end wall on the end thereof opposite said first end wall,

e. said second end wall including means defining an opening for draining the processing liquid from said housing; and

f. the location of said draining opening of said second end wall relative to said admitting opening is such that the processing liquid having contact with said interior surface flows out through said draining opening when said housing is disposed in the first orientation.

5. A method of processing a photographic print of the type requiring treatment with a plurality of liquids comprising:

a. placing the print in a light-tight container;

b. positioning said container in a first orientation;

c. with said container in said first orientation, introducing a quantity of a first treating liquid into said container and maintaining the first liquid separate from the print;

d. positioning said container to a second orientation to cause the first liquid to contact said print;

e. changing the orientation of said container to its first orientation; and

f. draining the first liquid from the container while introducing a second treating liquid into said container and maintaining the second liquid separate from the first liquid and the print.

6. In a method of processing a photographic print of the type requiring a treatment with at least first and second processing liquids, said method comprising the steps of:

a. placing the print in a light-tight container;

b. positioning said container in a first orientation;

c. introducing a quantity of the first treating liquid into said orientation; and

container and maintaining the first processing liq id f. draining the first processing liquid from said container separate from the print; and while introducing the second processing liquid into said d. changing the orientation of said container to cause the container and maintaining the Second Processing liquid fi processing liquid to Contact the prim; separate from the first processing liquid and the print. e. changing the orientation of said container to its first 

1. A photographic apparatus for processing photographic material comprising: a. a tubular housing including spaced first and second end walls, at least one of which is separable from the rest of the housing to facilitate locating of said such photographic material in said housing, b. said first end wall having an opening for admitting liquid into said tubular housing; and c. reservoir means mounted within said housing and in communication with said liquid admitting opening for receiving liquid as it is admitted into said housing and storing the received liquid out of contact with the interior surface of said housing and such received material while said housing is disposed in a first orientation and for discharging the stored liquid into contact with the internal surface of said housing and such received material when said housing is disposed in a second orientation, d. said second end wall defining liquid discharge means connecting the housing interior and exterior for draining from said housing, while said housing is disposed in said first orientation, that liquid which has contacted said interior housing surface and said received material while said housing is disposed in said second orientation.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein in said first orientation said housing is in a position with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially vertical and the first end wall above said second end wall and in said second orientation said housing is in a position with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially horizontal.
 3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a substantially circular peripheral exterior surface which in said second orientation is adapted for transmitting rotary movement around said longitudinal axis to said housing.
 4. Apparatus for processing photographic materials comprising: a. a tubular housing including one section separable from the rest of said housing to facilitate the locating of such photographic material in said housing, b. said housing having means defining an opening for admitting a processing liquid into said housing, c. reservoir means mounted within said housing and in communication with said admittinG opening for receiving the processing liquid as it is admitted into said housing and for storing the received processing liquid out of contact with an interior surface of said housing and the received photographic material while said housing is disposed in a first orientation and for discharging the stored processing liquid into contact with the received photographic material when said housing is disposed in a second orientation, d. said one section comprising a first end wall and said housing including a second end wall on the end thereof opposite said first end wall, e. said second end wall including means defining an opening for draining the processing liquid from said housing; and f. the location of said draining opening of said second end wall relative to said admitting opening is such that the processing liquid having contact with said interior surface flows out through said draining opening when said housing is disposed in the first orientation.
 5. A method of processing a photographic print of the type requiring treatment with a plurality of liquids comprising: a. placing the print in a light-tight container; b. positioning said container in a first orientation; c. with said container in said first orientation, introducing a quantity of a first treating liquid into said container and maintaining the first liquid separate from the print; d. positioning said container to a second orientation to cause the first liquid to contact said print; e. changing the orientation of said container to its first orientation; and f. draining the first liquid from the container while introducing a second treating liquid into said container and maintaining the second liquid separate from the first liquid and the print.
 6. In a method of processing a photographic print of the type requiring a treatment with at least first and second processing liquids, said method comprising the steps of: a. placing the print in a light-tight container; b. positioning said container in a first orientation; c. introducing a quantity of the first treating liquid into said container and maintaining the first processing liquid separate from the print; and d. changing the orientation of said container to cause the first processing liquid to contact the print; e. changing the orientation of said container to its first orientation; and f. draining the first processing liquid from said container while introducing the second processing liquid into said container and maintaining the second processing liquid separate from the first processing liquid and the print. 